JP2016514656A - Packaging apparatus and packaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wrapping apparatus (1) for wrapping a smoking article, in particular, a wrapping apparatus (2) for winding a barrier film (4) around a packaged article (P) such as a pack of smoking articles. And the barrier film (4) wound around the article (P) to form a protective housing around the article (P), and the barrier film along the seam (9, 9 ') Provided is a packaging device (1) comprising at least one seal head (21, 21 ') having a contact surface (23, 23') for sealing (4). The contact surface (23, 23 ') of the seal head (21, 21') is at least partially discontinuous to provide an unsealed area (24, 24 ') in the seal head (21, 21') It is. In this way, the unsealed areas (24, 24 ′) overlap at least partially, preferably entirely, with the weakened portions or strips (6, 7) provided in the barrier film (4). Placed in. The present invention also provides a corresponding method, as well as a packaged article (P) produced by the device (1) or method. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus and a packaging method for packaging articles such as cigarettes, fine cigars and cigar packs. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity and clarity, these articles are collectively referred to simply as “smoking articles”. The present invention also relates to an article packaged with an article such as a pack of smoking articles produced by such an apparatus or method.

  For example, packs of smoking articles, such as cigarette packs, are typically produced in a packaging process in which a container is formed around the filling of the smoking article. After this packaging process, the pack is finally wrapped with a barrier film designed to protect it from external influences such as moisture and to keep the smoking article fresh and preserve its scent, Sealed. This barrier film is typically a flexible sheet, desirably transparent, formed of cellophane, polypropylene or other synthetic film material, usually heat shrunk and heated to adhere around the pack. The

  The barrier film is configured to tear or tear along the line so that the consumer can access the smoking articles in the pack after purchase. In this regard, the line may be, for example, a fragile line formed on the barrier film material by a score line or the like, or a line that traces an opening tape adhered to the burr film. The tab or flap is typically located at the end of the line so that the user can easily begin to tear or tear the barrier film. However, it has been found that adhesion or sealing of the barrier film affects the line of weakness. In particular, even if tabs and flaps are installed on barrier films that make it difficult for consumers to remove the barrier film and gain access to smoking articles, while compromising normal tearability or tearability. Good.

  In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for packaging an article, such as a smoking article, which has been improved by addressing the above problems. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pack of smoking articles that is correspondingly improved.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an article wrapping apparatus, such as a smoking article, having the features of claim 1. Various advantageous and / or preferred features of the invention are also described in the dependent claims.

  Thus, according to one aspect, the present invention is a packaging device, particularly for packaging smoking articles, a wrapping device for wrapping a barrier film around a packaged article, such as a pack of smoking articles, and a wrapping around the article. At least one seal head having a contact surface for sealing the barrier film along the seam to contact the barrier film and form a protective housing around the article, In order to provide a sealing area, the contact surface of the seal head provides a packaging device that is at least partially intermittent.

  As described above, the present invention provides a barrier film with fragile lines or regions (eg, fragile or fragile lines or strips) that help consumers remove the film and access the article. Thus, in the present invention, the seal head is placed while adhering or sealing the barrier film, and the non-sealed area is at least partially, desirably entirely, on the line of weakness or area in the film. In this way, the seal head can perform the necessary adhesion of the barrier film without adversely affecting the brittle or fragile lines or strips in the film.

  In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping device is configured to wrap the barrier film around the packaged article, so that an overlapping portion of the barrier film is formed, and the seal head contacts the barrier film along the seam. And seal. The overlapping portions of the barrier film are formed, for example, by overlapping the ends of the film and / or by folding the ends of the film.

  In a preferred embodiment, the sealing head is a heating means that heats the contact surface to contact the film surrounding the article and seal the barrier film along the seam by thermal bonding or melting. It has. In this regard, the non-sealed area is not in contact with the barrier film, and therefore, the non-sealed area cannot effect thermal bonding or dissolution as effectively as possible, with little or no effect. It does not include fragile or easily broken lines or regions of the film located in the region. Alternatively, the sealing is achieved by an adhesive that adheres via the pressure exerted by the sealing head on the contact surface. In this case, the non-sealing region does not come into contact with the barrier film and does not exert pressure on the barrier film. The barrier film in this particular unsealed area is preferably also away from the adhesive. Thus, adhesion in this region is avoided.

  In a preferred embodiment, the seal head has a generally elongated shape, and the non-sealed area is provided as an intermediate area across the longitudinal direction of the seal head. In this regard, the unsealed area extends over at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 90% of the total width of the seal head. In one particular embodiment, the contact surface of the seal head is completely intermittent in the longitudinal direction, and the unsealed area extends across the entire width of the seal head. However, in other embodiments, the contact surface of the seal head is only partially intermittent (and thus partially continuous) in the longitudinal direction, and therefore the non-sealing region is across the full width of the seal head. It has not spread. In particular, the contact surface has an extension of less than 25% (preferably less than 10%) of the width of the seal head between adjacent non-contact areas. By ensuring that the seam is continuous in at least a small area, the barrier film can be more effectively protected from external influences such as moisture than the smoking article, and the scent of the smoking article is more effective. And maintaining its freshness more effectively. This continuous region is preferably at the periphery or end of the seam, but may also be in the middle or middle.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the geometric shape of the non-sealed region varies within two or three dimensions. For example, the geometry of the non-sealing region varies in the plane of the contact surface of the seal head. Specifically, the width of the non-sealing region varies (for example, linearly or stepwise) in the direction across the width of the seal head. On the barrier film or on the barrier film such that an actuating means such as a tab or flap is manipulated (eg, grabbed and pulled) by the user to actuate or break vulnerable lines or areas in the film When provided in, the sealing head is positioned such that a wider portion of the non-sealed area hangs on the tabs and flaps when the barrier film is sealed or thermally bonded along the seam . Desirably, the non-sealed region is formed by a recess or cavity in the seal head. As another aspect, or as an aspect in addition to the deformation of the geometry of the non-sealing region in the plane of the contact surface, the height or depth of the recess or cavity (eg perpendicular to the contact surface) is the seal head There are various width directions. In this way, the amount of radiant heat transferred to the barrier film by the seal head in the non-sealed region is also adjusted.

  In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping apparatus comprises a holder, preferably in the form of a rotating carousel, which holds one or more of the articles to be packaged and transports the article wrapped with a barrier film to a seal head. The seal head is desirably movable relative to the holder to contact the barrier film wrapped around each article and seal the barrier film along the seam. When the holder is a rotating carousel, the wrapped article to be wrapped is conveyed by rotation of the carousel around the axis, and the seal head contacts the barrier film along the seam to seal it On the other hand, it can move in the radial direction relatively.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device comprises at least two sealing heads, each sealing head being configured to form a seam portion in a barrier film that is wrapped around the packaged article. In this regard, the seal head is desirably configured to engage the article separately and sequentially. For example, the two sealing heads are spaced apart from each other around the holder or carousel for separate and sequential engagement with each article. Thus, each seal head has a non-sealing region, and each non-sealing region may have a different shape or configuration. These may then cooperate and / or complement each other in forming the seam.

  In a preferred embodiment, the packaged article comprises a pack of smoking articles, the pack of smoking articles on a frame made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard, reinforcing paper, paperboard, fiberboard or polymer sheet material, Or a filling of a smoking article that is itself supported within the frame. The rigid or semi-rigid material of the frame may be relatively flexible but, regardless of its composition, provides structural stability to the pack of smoking articles, thereby causing damage (inadvertently during transportation and storage). The hard or semi-rigid material should be dimensionally stable to protect the smoking article from compression or crushing). Thus, the smoking article filler and the frame are both wrapped or encapsulated with the barrier film by sealing the overlapped portion of the barrier film to form one or more seams.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of packaging an article, such as a pack of smoking articles. This packaging method
A barrier film for wrapping around a packaged article, the barrier film having a fragile line or part,
Wrap a barrier film around the packaged article,
Providing at least one sealing head having a contact surface for sealing the barrier film;
The contact surface is at least partially intermittent to provide an unsealed area to the seal head;
In order to seal the barrier film along the seam, the sealing head is brought into contact with the barrier film wrapped around the article so that the non-sealed area is at least partially, preferably substantially Each step completely overlaps the fragile line or part of the barrier film.

  In a preferred embodiment, the method includes heating the contact surface of the seal head to achieve sealing of the barrier film along the seam by thermal bonding or melting. Further, the step of bringing the seal head into contact with the barrier film desirably includes applying pressure to the barrier film covering the contact surface of the seal head.

  In preferred embodiments, the fragile line or portion of the barrier film includes one or more weak lines, such as score lines or perforations. Further, the fragile line or portion may be manipulated (eg, grasped and pulled) by a user to activate or break the fragile line or portion (eg, the weak line or region). , Including actuating means such as tabs or flaps provided on or in the barrier film. In this regard, the non-sealed region is preferably arranged at least partially, more preferably completely, over the actuating means (eg tab or flap).

  According to yet another aspect, the present invention provides a packaged article, such as a pack of smoking articles produced by the apparatus and / or method of the present invention as described for any one of the above embodiments. provide.

  Thus, the present invention also provides a packaged package, such as a pack of smoking articles, that has an outer wrapping that includes a barrier film sealed along the seam to form a protective housing around the article. Provide the goods. The barrier film has a fragile site or strip and a tab for actuating the fragile site or strip, the seam extends across the fragile site or strip, and the seam does not hook the tab.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the fragile portion or strip of the flexible barrier film includes at least one weak line such as a score line or perforation. The seam is then at least partially intermittent where it intersects the weakened portion or strip of the film.

  Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a packaging, such as a pack of smoking articles, having an outer wrapping that includes a barrier film sealed along the seam to form a protective housing around the article. Provide finished goods. The barrier film includes a fragile line or site, and the seam extends across the fragile line or site and is at least partially intermittent where it crosses the fragile line or site of the film. In the intermittent region of this joint, the barrier film is usually not sealed.

  In a preferred embodiment, the seam is intermittent for at least 50% or more, more preferably at least 75% or more, and even more preferably about 90% or more of the total width of the seam, ie the width across the longitudinal direction. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the seam is sealed at least a portion of its width, ie preferably at least about 10% or more of its width.

  In order that the invention and its advantages may be more fully understood, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts.

It is a top view of the flat sheet of the barrier film used for packaging of the smoking article which concerns on one specific embodiment. It is a side view of the packaging apparatus of the smoking article which concerns on this embodiment. It is a plane sectional view of the sealing member of the packaging apparatus of FIG.

  The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and, together with the following description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the advantages associated with the present invention will be readily understood as they are better understood by reference to the following detailed description.

  Common and well-understood elements are intended to facilitate a more abstract view of an embodiment, whether it is useful or not necessary in an embodiment that is commercially viable. It will be understood that this is not necessarily depicted. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale relative to each other. Furthermore, certain acts and / or steps in method embodiments may be described or depicted in a particular order as long as one of ordinary skill in the art understands that no particularity in sequence is actually required. It is understood that. The terms and expressions used in this specification are intended to be consistent with terms and expressions relevant to each field of research and research that correspond to them, except where specifically stated below. It is understood that it has meaning.

  1 and 2 of the drawings, a packaging device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is partially shown in the side view of FIG. The apparatus 1 includes a wrapping apparatus 2 configured to wrap a sheet 3 of a barrier film 4 around a packaged article P. The sheet 3 of barrier film in this particular embodiment is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 as a general rectangular sheet and is a general rectangular sheet such as a cigarette, a cigar, or other smoking article. Specially designed to be wrapped around the pack P by the wrapping device 2. In this regard, FIG. 1 clearly shows the portion of the barrier film sheet 3 corresponding to the “front” and “back” of the pack P of smoking articles. Furthermore, the outer region 5 around the barrier film sheet 3 that is cross-hatched or shaded indicates a portion where the sheet 3 overlaps after the pack P is wrapped around the film.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet 3 of the barrier film 4 is perforated and / or extends parallel to each other across the width of the sheet 3 to form a fragile or tearable strip 7 in the barrier film. Or it has two lines 6 of scoring. In this regard, the tab or flap 8 is the actuating means that the user grasps and pulls to activate the fragile strip 7 and thereby break the barrier film 4 along the perforation and / or scoring line 6. As one end region of the fragile strip 7.

  The individual sheets 3 of the barrier film 4 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings are provided in a continuous roll of barrier film material, which is supplied from the bulk roll into the wrapping device 2 of the packaging device 1. A plurality of sheets 3 continuously connected to each other along the front end L and the rear end T, respectively, with reference to the traveling direction of the film to be performed (the direction indicated by the arrow D). The general dimensions of the sheet 3 of the barrier film 4 are clearly described in millimeters in FIG. 1 for application to a typical pack of smoking articles. However, for those skilled in the art, such dimensions are merely indicative of one particular embodiment of the present invention, and these dimensions do not affect the inventive concept and in other embodiments. It will be appreciated that there may be differences. The barrier film 4 in this example is preferably constituted by a polypropylene material, preferably transparent, having weak lines 6 pre-formed in the film 4 by laser drilling and / or scoring. Alternatively, the barrier film 4 has a tear tape and a weak line 6 formed along the longitudinal edge of the tear tape.

  Referring again to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the wrapping device 2 comprises a holder 10 provided in the form of a rotating carousel for holding and transporting a number of packs P each wrapped with a sheet 3 of a barrier film 4. . In this regard, the carousel 10 is provided to rotate about a central axis A and each receives and holds a pack P of a single smoking article wrapped with a corresponding sheet 3 of the barrier film 4. A number of bays or recesses 11 are provided around the carousel 10 so as to be spaced apart from each other. From the point of view of FIG. 2, the “lower” end of each pack P having the folded and superimposed portion 5 of the sheet 3 of the barrier film 4 faces out of the page.

  Still referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the packaging device 1 comprises two sealing stations 20, 20 '. Each station has a sealing head 21, 21 ′ around each pack P for sealing the sheet 3 of barrier film 4 (eg, via thermal bonding or melting). In particular, as shown in the detailed enlarged view of FIG. 2, the seal head 21 is formed on the barrier film 4 along the radially outward side edge of the pack P held in the bay or recess 11 of the carousel 10. An elongate seal member 22 (shown in cross-sectional view) having a contact surface 23 for contacting the overlap 5 is provided. The seal head 21 typically includes a heating means (not shown, for example, an electric heating body) for heating the seal member 22, and the contact surface 23 is a seam extending over the length of the side edge of the pack P. The barrier film 4 is sealed or dissolved along 9, and the barrier film 4 provides a protective housing around the pack. In this connection, the carousel 10 conveys the pack P held in each bay or recess 11 to each of the two seal stations 20, 20 ′ by rotating in the R direction about the axis A. . At each sealing station 20, 20 ′, the side edges of the pack P are aligned along each slot 12, 13 formed in the curved fixed cover plate 14 around the carousel 10. At that time, the carousel 10 can be moved radially inward through the slots 12 and 13 so that the seal heads 21 and 21 'can be engaged and sealed with the barrier film 4 through the contact surfaces 23 and 23'. At this position, pause with the pack P.

  Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the seal members 22, 22 'of the seal heads 21, 21' are depicted in more detail. The upper part of FIG. 3 represents the contact surfaces 23, 23 ′ of the respective seal members 22, 22 ′ in a plan or bottom view (ie in a radial direction with respect to the axis A of the carousel 10). Each contact surface 23, 23 ′ extends across the width of each seal member 22, 22 ′ and has non-sealed regions 24, 24 ′ across the longitudinal direction. In this regard, the non-sealed regions 24, 24 'are indicated by cross hatches and are formed in the surface of each seal member 22, 22' by respective recesses or cavities 25, 25 ', respectively. Accordingly, each non-sealed region 24, 24 'forms at least a partial discontinuity on the contact surface 23, 23' of each seal head 21, 21 '. For clarity, the two sealing stations 20, 20 'are referred to in the following description as first sealing station 20 and second sealing station 20', respectively. The various parts of the first and second sealing stations 20, 20 ′ are similarly denoted by the terms “first” and “second” where appropriate to enhance clarity of explanation.

  For example, in the first seal head 21, the non-sealed region 24 has a substantially uniform or constant width 26 and extends over approximately 90% of the width 27 of the first seal member 22. By doing so, the contact surface 23 of the first seal head 21 is, as shown in FIG. 3, on the right hand side of the first seal member 22, a narrow continuous band or strip (ie, the contact surface 23). Maintain approximately 10% of the total width 27).

  In contrast, the non-sealed area 24 'of the second seal head 21' traverses the entire width 27 'of the second seal member 22' so that the contact surface 23 'in this area is completely non-continuous. Extend. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the width 26 ′ of the non-sealing region 24 ′ is a contact surface 23 in a stepped shape between a narrower width on the right hand side and a wider width on the left hand side. Vary in the plane of '.

  Further, referring to FIG. 3, the lower part of the drawing shows that the seal members 22, 22 ′ of the first and second seal heads 21, 21 ′ in the cross-sectional view are in a plane perpendicular to the axis A of the carousel 10. The seal members 22 and 22 ′ of the first and second seal heads 21 and 21 ′ are shown in cross sections taken in the directions XX and X′-X ′. Thus, it can be seen that the geometric shapes of the unsealed regions 24, 24 'of the first and second seal heads 21, 21' change in three dimensions. Therefore, when the contact surface 23 of the first seal head 21 comes into contact with the barrier film 4 overlapping along the side edge region of the pack P of the smoking article, the right hand side “a” of the first seal member 22 The area shown is in direct contact with the barrier film 4, while the area indicated by "b" is somewhat away from the barrier film 4 (eg, 0.1 mm) and is not in contact. In fact, the entire unsealed region 24 is not in contact with the barrier film 4 and therefore does not contribute to the formation of the seam 9. The height 28 of the recess or cavity 25 forming the non-sealing region 24 is larger, the distance between the first sealing member 22 and the barrier film 4 in the non-sealing region 24 is larger, and the radiant heat generated from the sealing member 22 When there is less, there will be less impact on the barrier film in its unsealed area. For the second sealing head 21 ', it is clear that the second sealing member 22' is further away from the barrier film 4 (ie due to the height 28 'of the cavity 25') in the non-sealing region 24 '. is there. The right hand side indicated by “c” has an interval of about 0.1 mm, whereas the side indicated by “d” has a width of about 0.2 mm over the width 27 ′ of the second seal member 22 ′. It has increased linearly. Here, the heights 28, 28 'are represented in FIG. 3 as varying across the widths 27, 27' of the seal members 22, 22 ', respectively, while they also indicate the sealing performance of the seal members. It is pointed out that substantially constant values can be taken over the widths 27, 27 'of the sealing members 22, 22' described above without significant changes.

  In each of the sealing stations 20, 20 ′, the first and second sealing members 22, 24 are arranged so that the non-sealed areas 24, 24 ′ are aligned with the fragile strip 7 in the sheet 3 of the barrier film 4. By placing 22 ', the barrier film 4 is sealed along the seam 9, 9' at the side edge of the pack P without negatively or adversely affecting the subsequent operation of the fragile strip 7 by the user. Or it is heat-bonded. That is, by configuring the seal members 22 and 22 ′ in this way, the first and second seal heads 21 and 21 ′ ensure that a desired sealed state is created along the seams 9 and 9 ′. The unsealed areas 24, 24 ′ at the same time ensure that the fragile strip 7 in the sheet 3 of the barrier film 4 retains its operational effect. In this regard, the second sealing head 20 ′ is preferably arranged such that a wider part of the non-sealed area 24 ′ overlaps the tabs or flaps 8 of the fragile strip 7, so that the actuating means is a barrier film 4. To minimize the effects of heat sealing or adhesion of the fragile strip 7 and to ensure proper start-up of the fragile strip 7.

  While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various alternative and / or equivalent implementations exist. In this regard, it is pointed out that the shape of the packaged article P is not important in the present invention. Cigarette packs are generally rectangular in shape, but other shapes are also contemplated.

  It should be understood that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, availability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing general description and detailed description provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, and the appended claims and their laws. It will be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary embodiments without departing from the above equivalent scope. For example, the particular embodiment described with respect to FIG. 3 includes two seal members 22, 22 ′ that form two parallel seams 9, 9 ′ along the side of the pack P, although the device of the present invention. It is pointed out that 1 and the method can also comprise a single seal head 21 with one seal member 22 for forming a single seam 9 along the side of each article or pack P. Overall, this application is intended to cover any applications or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

  Also, in this document, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “inclusion”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof are all included. It is intended to be understood in the meaning (ie non-exclusive). The processes, methods, devices, apparatuses or systems described herein are not limited to the listed features or parts or elements or steps, and are not specifically described, or such processes, methods, articles or It may include other elements, features, parts or processes specific to the device. Further, the terms “a” and “an” as used herein are intended to be understood to mean one or more unless otherwise specified. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are used merely as a classification and are intended to impose numerical requirements on those objects or to establish a particular rank of importance. It is not a thing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging apparatus 2 Lapping apparatus 3 Barrier film sheet 4 Barrier film 5 Folding or overlapping part of barrier film 6 Weak line 7 Weak strip 8 Flap or tab 9 Seam 9 'Seam 10 Holder or carousel 11 Bay or recess 12 Slot 13 Slot 14 Cover plate 20 First sealing station 20 'Second sealing station 21 First sealing head 21' Second sealing head 22 First sealing member 22 'Second sealing member 23 Contact surface 23' Contact surface 24 Non-sealing region 24 ' Non-sealing area 25 Recess or cavity 25 'Recess or cavity 26 Non-sealing area width 26' Non-sealing area width 27 Contact surface width 27 'Contact surface width 28 Recess or cavity height 28' Recess or Cavity height P Pack of smoking articles D How the barrier film sheet proceeds Direction L Front end of barrier film sheet T Rear end of barrier film sheet A Rotation axis of carousel R Carousel traveling direction X Cross-sectional direction X '

Claims (14)

In particular a packaging device (1) for packaging smoking articles,
A wrapping device (2) for wrapping a barrier film (4) around an article (P) to be packaged, such as a pack of smoking articles;
In order to form a protective casing around the article (P), the barrier film is brought into contact with the barrier film (4) wound around the article (P) and along the seam (9, 9 ′). At least one seal head (21, 21 ') having a contact surface (23, 23') for sealing (4),
The contact surfaces (23, 23 ') of the seal head (21, 21') are at least partly provided to provide an unsealed area (24, 24 ') to the seal head (21, 21'). A packaging device which is discontinuous and wherein the width (26 ') of the non-sealed region (24') varies over the width (27 ') of the seal head (21').   The sealing head (21, 21 ') is used to contact the contact surface (23, 23') to achieve sealing of the barrier film (4) along the seam (9, 9 ') by thermal bonding or melting. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising heating means for heating the non-sealed area (24, 24 ') substantially in contact with the barrier film (4).   The sealing head (21, 21 ′) has an elongated shape, and the non-sealing region (24, 24 ′) is an intermediate region crossing the longitudinal direction of the sealing head (21, 21 ′). Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2.   The unsealed region (24, 24 ') extends over at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 90% of the total width of the seal head (21, 21'). The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the unsealed region (24 ') extends over the entire width (27') of the sealing head (21 ').   The width (26 ') of the non-sealing region (24') varies linearly or stepwise over the width (27 ') of the seal head (21'). Any of the devices (1) described.   The unsealed region (24, 24 ′) is formed in the seal head (21, 21 ′) by a recess or cavity (25, 25 ′), and the contact of the recess or cavity (25, 25 ′). The height or depth (28, 28 ') perpendicular to the surface (23, 23') varies over the width (27, 27 ') of the seal head (21, 21'), Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.   The wrapping device (2) holds the plurality of articles (P) to be packaged, and rotates the carousel (10) around the axis (A) to wind the barrier film (4). A carousel (10) that conveys articles (P) to the seal heads (21, 21 ′), and the seal heads (21, 21 ′) are the barrier films ( 4) in contact with the carousel (10) in order to seal the barrier film (4) along the seams (9, 9 ') and move radially relative to the carousel (10). The device (1) according to any of the preceding claims.   Each including at least two seal heads (21, 21 ') configured to form a portion of a seam (9, 9') in a barrier film (4) wound around the article (P), The device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a sealing head (21, 21 ') is configured to engage the article (P) separately and sequentially.   The two seal heads (21, 21 ') are spaced apart from each other around the carousel (10) to engage each article (P) separately and sequentially, 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the head (21, 21 ') comprises a single unsealed region (24, 24') or a plurality of unsealed regions (24, 24 ') having different shapes or configurations. (1). A method of packaging an article (P) such as a pack of smoking articles,
Providing a barrier film (4) having a fragile part or strip (6, 7) for wrapping around an article (P) to be packaged;
Wrap the barrier film (4) around the article (P) to be packaged,
Providing at least one sealing head (21, 21 ') having a contact surface (23, 23') for sealing the barrier film (4), the contact surface (23, 23 ') To provide the head (21, 21 ′) with an unsealed area (24, 24 ′) having a width (26 ′) that varies across the width (27 ′) of the sealing head (21 ′) At least partially discontinuous,
In order to seal the barrier film (4) along the seam (9, 9 ′), the seal head (21, 21 ′) is brought into contact with the barrier film (4) wound around the article (P). And thereby the non-sealing regions (24, 24 ') at least partially overlap each of the weakened portions or strips (6, 7).   The contact surface (23, 23 ') of the seal head (21, 21') is used to achieve sealing of the barrier film (4) along the seam (9, 9 ') by thermal bonding or melting. The method of claim 11, comprising the step of heating.   The fragile portion or strip (7) in the flexible barrier film (4) is for actuating one or more weak lines (6), such as score lines or perforations, and the fragile portion or strip (7). 13. A tab (8), wherein the non-sealing region (24, 24 ') is arranged to at least partially, preferably substantially completely, overlap the tab (8). the method of.   A packaged article, such as a pack (P) of smoking articles produced by the apparatus (1) of any of claims 1 to 10, or the method of any of claims 11 to 13.

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